My 10 Favorite Places to Get My 'Garden Addiction Fix'

Sunday, May 22, 2016

One of the things I look forward to each Spring is the opportunity to enjoy the growing season. Although I have quieted (more or less) my insatiable addiction for over buying for my own gardens , I still enjoy window shopping. Since window shopping isn't really a safe activity for someone with an addiction - sometimes it's better to get my fix by visiting public gardens where I can admire and be inspired. Today's post is about some of my favorite public gardens and nurseries where I love to look - and buy. Whether you're a gardener, used to be a gardener, wish to be a gardener, or just love gardens, I think you'll enjoy this post. Here's my Top 10.

1) One of the first stops on my Spring 'list' is always Shades of Green in Charlton, NY. If your yard is more shady than sunny or if you have a shady corner just begging for some sprucing up, Shades of Green is where you need to go. Whether you're in need of shade plants for your garden, or just a little 'green therapy', Shades of Green will fill your cravings.

With a bajillion different varieties of hosta, heuchera, astilbe, pulmonaria and more, you'll be hard-pressed to come home empty handed. I know I never can. Shades of Green is a stroll through paradise where surprises await you at every turn.

Where else can you shop while feeling you are in the most amazing botanical garden without paying admission? I'll tell you.........scroll down..........

2. Rosewood Gardens also in Charlton, NY. Rosewood Gardens is the local home of the David Austin Rose. A slightly higher maintenance variety of rose, but well worth the trouble, these roses are simply breathtaking. Like Shades of Green, a visit to Rosewood Gardens will transport you to heaven on earth, where you'll be surrounded by deliciously sweet smelling roses and beautiful gardens. I highly recommend a visit and I promise it won't be your last.

3) Another favorite of mine, at any time of the year, isFaddegon's Nursery on the Troy Schenectady Road in Latham. Followers of my blog know Faddegon's is a year-round obsession of mine, but I really go crazy in May. We visited Faddegon's today.......remember my opening paragraph where I profess to have quieted by addiction.....scratch that! My reason for visiting today was to buy plants for a fairy garden I plan on doing with my granddaughter, Elena, but I have to admit I may have brought home a few plants beyond those needed for the fairy garden. Let's see, I may have bought 9 or 10 coleus, one large perennial, one Mouse Ear hosta, a couple caladiums, and a beautiful hanging plant. Once an addict.....always an addict. But really.....who could resist? Here's just a glimpse of what inspired my temptation today:

4) I can't stop now.....this year I scored big at Lakeside Farm & Cider Mill, where flowers are just one of the many things you can score when you visit. Besides a delicious breakfast or lunch, you can snag a great gift for anyone on your gift list in Ye Olde Farmhouse Gift Shoppe and.....bring home some beautiful flowers too!

This is one of the baskets I brought home! Gorgeous, right?

I'm pretty sure that among these four, you can satisfy all of your garden desires and when you have and your wallet is empty....it's time for a little window shopping for inspiration.

5) If you didn't get your fill of roses at Rosewood Gardens, your next stop needs to be the Central Park Rose Garden in Schenectady. Rows after rows of gorgeous roses of every color of the rainbow. It's no wonder this is such a sought after venue for photo sessions.

6. A more recent discovery of ours is the Kings Garden at Fort Ticonderoga. I have to admit that when John suggested we visit Fort Ticonderoga, I was sure the garden would be the only thing I enjoyed. How wrong I was!! The Fort is fascinating and fun. But that's another post....today we're focusing on flowers. And what amazing flowers there are! We visited early in the growing season last year, before some of the flowers were in season, but the iris, poppies, peony and columbine were spectacular. Summer brings many more varieties of perennials as well as a vegetable garden.

7. Had enough? I didn't think so. Drive to Manchester, VT and spend the afternoon at Hildene - home of Todd and Mary Lincoln (son of Abraham). Their gardens, modeled after stained glass, will have you walking around too overcome for words.

These hedges are trimmed 'daily'!!!

8. You want more??? Well, during Memorial Day weekend you can make your way to Sharon Springs, NY and attend the annual Sharon Springs Garden Partywhere you can have the chance to visit Beekman 1802. If you can't make that, maybe Josh and Brent (the Fabulous Beekman Boys) might just spontaneously decide to host a summer garden tour again this year. If they do, don't hesitate - GO!!!!! You'll get to see the beautiful Beekman Estate (the grounds), meet Farmer John and his goats, and see one of the most picturesque properties in Schoharie County. You might even get lucky and meet Josh and Brent - we did!

9. In Shelburne Falls, MA the Bridge of Flowers is a must-see for anyone that loves flowers. We haven't made it during peak season, but even in the fall it's a sight to behold. While you're there, don't forget to check out Historic Deerfield just down the road and Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory, also down the road. Links to individual posts about all of the places in this list will be included at the end of this post.

10. Well, after all this shopping and spectating, it's only fitting that #10 on my list of favorite places to go for a flower fix would be my own backyard. At the end of every good story, doesn't the main character always figure out that there's really no place like home? I may love travelling to all of these destinations, but at the end of the day (and a few trunk loads of stash), my own yard is really the place where happiness begins. I'm sure you can relate. I don't have long hours of sun in my yard, so you'll see why Shades of Green is #1 on my list. And yes.....I am obsessed with Hostas!

I hope you aren't suffering from an overdose by now. If you liked any of the venues listed, I've blogged about most of them. Below are links to those posts. To learn more about any of these fun places, just click on the name to check out their website. If you have any more great places you think I need to check out, leave a comment or send an email. If you really LOVE gardens and haven't had enough, you can click on the "Garden" category at the top of my blog and scroll through each and every post I've written about gardens including these. Or you can go to the Directory for a lislting. As always.....thanks so much for reading! Come back soon to Life As I See It and if you know someone who needs a little green therapy, share this post with them using the links at the end of this blog.

Wow, has this been a banner year for foliage or what!?!? It's been hard to stay home when the weather has been as beautiful as it has....

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All photos, unless otherwise noted,were taken by Gail A. Welter. All Rights Reserved. Photographs in this blog may not be reproduced or manipulated in any form or fashion without my express written consent.